Published: July 29, 2010
HULC Military Exoskeleton Ready for Human Trials; ABI Research Forecasts More than 11,000 Will Ship by 2020
NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Lockheed Martin announced recently that it has received a $1.1-million
contract from the US Army for human trials and evaluation of its
advanced ruggedized Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) exoskeleton,
"designed to augment soldiers' strength and endurance, as well as reduce
load carriage injuries." This development was anticipated by ABI
Research in its market study "Exoskeletons,
Powered Prostheses and Optical Sensory Devices: The Global Market for
Human Enhancement/Augmentation Systems" (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1004686).
The ABI Research study examines the development of powered exoskeletons
as one facet of the burgeoning sector of Human Augmentation Systems that
can supplement human strength and durability, or which allow people to
reclaim bodily capabilities lost to illness or injury. In addition to
exoskeletons, the study also considers the outlook for advanced powered
upper-limb prostheses, which substitute for arms, and ocular sensory
substitution devices, which can restore some level of sight to the blind.
Says Larry Fisher, research director of ABI Research's NextGen practice,
"We anticipate that completion of the Army's field tests and trials,
probably in 2014 or 2015, will be followed by widespread commercial
production of powered exoskeletons. Deployment of exoskeletons in
commercial sectors will probably remain quite limited for another decade
or so, due to their high cost (more than $25,000 per suit)."
Further, Fisher observes, "We project the overall market for
exoskeletons, powered prostheses and optical sensory devices to exceed
$877 million in 2020. Exoskeletons will make up roughly a third of the
market by 2020 on a revenue basis, accounting for sales of $292 million,
and slightly more than a third on a unit basis, with more than 11,000 to
be delivered between now and 2020."
The study is published under the Human-Technology
Research Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/product/service/Human-Machine_Technology_Research_Service),
which is part of NextGen, the ABI Research emerging technology research
incubator.
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of
emerging trends in global connectivity. From offices in North America,
Europe and Asia, ABI Research's worldwide team of experts advise
thousands of decision makers through 28 research and advisory services.
Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com,
or call +1.516.624.2500.
ABI Research
Christine Gallen, +1-516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com
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